Panasonic PV-DV102 MiniDV Digital Camcorder With Still Camera And USB
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Author's Rating:
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Pros: Price, size, features, picture quality in video mode, USB connection, FireWire, "SD drive"
Cons: Still pictures have low resolution, only 10x zoom, no remote included
The Bottom Line:
The Panasonic PV-DV102 is a good camcorder in terms of video quality and features, but it is not great as digital still ...
Author's Review
The
Panasonic PV-DV102 is a MiniDV digital camcorder with a 2.5 LCD that sells for less than $550. It features a MPEG streaming, built-in light, digital still camera mode with SD card drive and up to 1280x960 resolution.
Video
The picture quality in video mode is excellent in both LP and SP modes due in part to the use of a 680K-pixel CCD. The camcorder has a built-in microphone that zooms with the camera and produces adequate sound quality. It also has a built-in light to improve the picture quality in dark scenes (but drains battery quickly).
Digital Stills - PhotoShot
The DV102 can also take digital still pictures and store them on the tape or on the MultiMediaCard (it is not included, so you have to buy it separately). The Progressive PhotoShot mode helps eliminate fussiness and makes pictures more sharp.
However, the cam doesnt exactly excel in terms of the still picture resolution...
The 680,000-pixel CCD cannot compete with even inexpensive modern digital still cameras. And it definitely cannot allow you have
true 1280x960 resolution. Although you have a choice of two resolution modes: 1280x960 (Fine) or 640x480 (Normal), the 680,000-pixel CCD doesnt allow for true 1280x960 resolution the 1280x960 would require more than 1.2-Megapixel CCD.
Thus, the 1280x960 is something they refer to software resolution when you read about scanners (as opposed to true hardware resolution).
Connections
The camcorder has a USB connection as well as FireWire (i.Link) port. It also has an A/V out with a composite video out, headphone jack.
MiniDV
As majority of other digital camcorders, the DV102 uses MiniDV tapes. The LP mode allows you fit 50% more on a tape, compared to the standard SP mode. There are two modes for sound: 12-bit and 16-bit PCM stereo with two sets of stereo audio tracks (4 channels total), which allows you to add a second track of music or narration when using a 12-bit. You can perform audio dubbing, if you used SP mode during recording.
Dual Digital Electronic Image Stabilization (D-EIS)
The DV102 features effective digital electronic image stabilization in both record and playback modes to remove excessive shake while shooting as well as from previously recorded video.
Zoom
The cam has 10x optical / 700x digital zoom. There are several speeds (according to the finger pressure) and the slow speeds allow you create professional-looking segments.
LCD
The camcorder has a 2.5 LCD. You have an option to turn the LCD off and use a viewfinder to conserve battery power, which can also be accomplished by not using the integrated light. The standard battery (as is the case with majority of other camcorders) is quite small in terms of capacity, so to get any kind of reasonable recording time on one charge, you have to use the LCD only when necessary. Or get a large capacity battery.
MagicVu IR Filter (0 Lux)
Also featured in the other Panasonic digital camcorders, the MagicVu IR Filter lets you record video in near-total darkness. By turning on the IR filter, the camcorder uses a built-in infrared light to record images in dark settings at up to about 9 feet away in either B&W, blue, or green.
Picture Effects And Faders
There are several fader/transition modes you can use (I prefer edit my footage on the computer and add transitions later) and some effects can be combined. The DV102 has several fader modes as well as digital effects, which can be applied during both recording and playback. You can play back your recording in color, B&W or sepia.
The camcorder has auto and manual focus, self-record mode. And you can use it as a web cam.
[No] Remote Control
The DV102 doesnt come with the remote control you can buy it separately. And you have to have it to use some of the features like slow motion and frame advance playback, index search.
Bottom Line
The Panasonic PV-DV102 is a good camcorder in terms of video quality and features, but it is not great as digital still camera. If you need more than 640x480 true resolution for still pictures, you have to get a device with a CCD of higher resolution.
Also, if you need an SD card and remote control, you may be better off buying a DV202.
